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Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems in Australia, with more than five times the prevalence of asthma among young children. 11 million people newly develop tooth decay every year. According to reports recently released by the government, tooth decay is also the second most expensive diet related disease in Australia. Research done by the Australian Dental Association reveals that an alarming 57% of people living in Australia expect to develop tooth decay at some point in their lives, a condition that can be painful, unsightly and sometimes irreversible. The most common question that a majority of people ask themselves is how quickly does tooth decay form? Well, just like many questions the answer is: it depends. For you to know how long it can take for your teeth to decay, you first need to understand some few things. How Do My Teeth Decay? Most of the food we eat on a daily basis cause decay over a period of time. Acids and sugars that you may be consuming on a regular basis can have a major negative effect on your oral health. These items will slowly break your teeth’s enamel, leaving your teeth less protected from the action of bacteria, and eventually causing decay. A majority of people think that only sweets cause tooth decay, however, there are many other foods that can contribute to the process. Such foods include acidic foods, breakfast cereals, cookies, bananas, carb-heavy foods, and candy. The main reason why people suffer from this condition is because most foods that can actually accelerate the process are not considered to be unhealthy. For example, some fruits can be very acidic, but then they provide vital nutrients to your body. It is not always the obvious foods that people think of that cause tooth decay. How Does Tooth Decay Form Our mouths carry thousands of bacteria. When these bacteria start destroying some areas of your mouth, a cavity will appear. The cavity will appear due to bacteria action on the plaque that later releases acid. Typically, a cavity starts on your tooth enamel as a tiny area. If it is left untreated, it will eventually eat through the enamel and the entire tooth structure. The length of time that takes for tooth decay to form largely depends on the kind of diet you take and of course your oral hygiene. However, typically the process is fairly slow and may take quite some time. It can take up to two years, but with the absolute absence of oral hygiene, it can occur as early as within three weeks. By catching a tooth decay early, your dentist can be able to address the problem and prevent further decay. Dentist in Springvale Will Help You Prevent Tooth Decay Even though the whole process of tooth decay is a bit slow, you cannot simply prevent it with the simple oral hygiene you practice at home. Professional exams and cleaning are the only sure way to ensure that your teeth remain healthy and away from tooth decay over time. If you need to schedule dental cleaning and exam or you have any question about tooth decay, give us a call. Our dentist in Springvale has the much-required experience to ensure that you remain comfortable no matter what dental treatments you need.

Dental emergencies can be scary and frightening. Getting to know exactly what to do in the occurrence of a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving and losing your tooth. To help our patients in Springvale know what to do in such situation, we’ve compiled a list of common FAQs below. How Do I Know if I Have a Dental Emergency? If you are experiencing some significant pain or swelling in your gums and facial tissue or your tooth has been knocked out, that is a dental emergency, and you should seek dental care immediately. What Should I Do for a Knocked Out Tooth? When appropriate measures are taken immediately after the tooth has been knocked out there are high chances that a professional dentist can save and reinsert the tooth. Before visiting the dentist, you will need to take the following steps. -Pick up the knocked out tooth by the crown and do not touch the roots of the tooth. -Rinse it gently using some warm water and be careful not to scrub it or remove any tissues attached to it. -Try and place back the tooth in its socket and gently hold it in place while trying to bite it down. If you aren’t in a position to do that, place it on a contained with saliva or milk. -Visit your dentist as soon as you can. The sooner you get to your dentist the higher the chances of saving the tooth. How Should I Take Care of a Jaw Fracture? Jaw fracture requires immediate medical attention. You can call your dentist immediately to give you directions on what to do. If you aren’t in a position to talk, have someone else call the dentist for you. A severe head injury can be incredibly dangerous and life threatening What Is the Best Way to Deal with Swelling? In most cases, swelling is brought about by an infection. If the swelling causes your eyes to become swollen or makes you have difficulties breathing, you need dental care right away. Don’t apply any heat on the swollen area as this may cause the infection to spread much faster. What Happens In The Event That I Lose a Tooth Filling? If you lose your dental filling, seek the attention of a dentist as soon as possible. You can also get dental cement from a pharmacy and use it as a temporary solution while you wait to see the dentist. If dental cement is not available, you can use sugar-free gum to cover the cavity. What Should I Do if I Have a Fractured or Cracked Tooth? A cracked or fractured tooth mostly suggests that the tooth has been damaged from the inside as well as the outside. If you have a cracked tooth, follow the following steps and call your dentist immediately: – Gently rinse your mouth with some warm water. – Apply a cold compress if the facial trauma has caused the fracture. – Take some acetaminophen to reduce the pain. – Do not apply a painkiller to the gum since it can burn the gum tissues. Contact Us at Springvale Dental Clinic for Dental Emergencies As the general rule of thumb,if it hurts, it’s a dental emergency. Contact us at Springvale dental clinic if you are experiencing pain brought about by an injury to your teeth or mouth. Our dentist in Springvale will do everything to help save your tooth!

The Federal Government introduced the Grow up Smiling- Child Dental Benefit Scheme (CDBS) in 2014. The new dental plan replaced the Teen Dental Scheme, enabling families to receive $1,000 worth of dental care absolutely free for 2 calendar years. The new dental plan allows dental clinics like ours to provide treatments for children from the age of 2 to17 years from families which are eligible for the scheme. With this plan, parents will have dental checkups for their children at absolutely no charge. Utilize your child’s dental plan before the year ends Forfamilies which are qualified to have the dental benefit, all you need to do is call us and set up an appointment. Our devoted team of dentists will take care of your child’s dental needs in the best way possible. All you will need to do is sign a consent form and our front office staff will take care of the paper work for you. Treatments covered by the scheme The Federal Government has offered a dental care plan that covers most of your typical oral health problems. The plan allows you to have scale and cleaning, oral examinations, fillings, extractions, x-rays, fissure sealing, and root canals. Our dutiful team of dentists is ready to offer expert dental care for any of the treatments covered by the scheme. You can always drop by whenever you have the time as we are open to receive you all through the week till Saturday and also during afterhours. Your dental care coverage can be used any time of the year The CBDS dental care plan is valid for a period of two years and can be used at any time during this period. If you have not exhausted your cover in the first year, you can always use the remainder in the second year. However, any remainder that is left at the end of the second year is given up and cannot be carried forward to the next year when the second year ends. Who is eligible? Families that qualify as well as approved care organizations receive a letter confirming their eligibility. At the beginning of the year, the child’s eligibility is considered and this is maintained until the end of one calendar year. The child will be eligible should they be 2-17 years old for a minimum of one day in the calendar year. The other conditions for eligibility include being qualified for Medicare. The child should also be part of a group of related people eligible for Tax Benefit section A or another Australian Government payment which include the following payments; · Carer Payment · Youth Allowance · Parenting Payment · Double Orphan Pension · Veteran’s Children Education Scheme, for a child of 16 years and above · Special Benefit · Disability Support system · ABSTUDY · Military Rehabilitation & Compensation Act Education &Training Scheme, for children of 16 years and above Eligibility for the CBDS dental care plan is determined every calendar year; therefore, it may change from time to time. Parents who have eligible children should take advantage of the dental care plan before their benefits are nullified at the end of the year.